Demanding Consumers.

In 1970 one in every thirty-four households in the United States subscribed to Consumer Reports, and many more had access to the publication in public libraries. American consumers, people who bought goods sold in the United States, had become a demanding lot. Stirred to protest by consumer activist Ralph Nader, whose 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-in Dangers of The American Automobile indicted General Motors in particular for producing the Corvair and the auto industry in general for indifference to the safety of their cars, Americans were becoming finicky purchasers. Because the economic fortunes of the nation depended on the reliability of American goods, the government was quick to support measures that ensured the safety and integrity of products in the marketplace.

Desire for Truth.

Specifically, consumer groups wanted assurances that advertising claims were truthful, that product weights and measures were accurate, and...